Archive Record

Catalog Number

KSa020108

Collection

Kate Strong Historical Library

Object Name

Poem

Dates of Creation

1864/01/14

Scope & Content

Wake NocodemisNicodemus the slave was of African birth and was bought a bag full of gold. He was reckoned as part of the salt of the earth he died years ago very old twas his last sad request so we laid him away in the trunk of an old hollow tree wake me up was his charge at the first break of day wake me up for the great jubilee Chorus. The good time coming is all most here it was a long long long long on the way now run and tell Eligah to hurry up jump and meet us at the gun tree down in the swamp to wake Nicodemus to day. He was known as a prophet at least was a wire he told of battles to come and we trembled with dread when he roled? Up his eyes and we heeded the shake of his them though he clothed us with fear yet the garments he wore were in patches at elbo and knee and he still wars the suit that he used to of yore as he sleeps in the old hollow tree.Nicodemis was never the sport of the lash though the bullet had oft crossed his path there were none of his masters so brave or so rash as to dare such a man with his rath. Still his great heart with kindness was filed to the brim he obeyed who was born to command but he longed for the morning whitch now is at hand.On reverseTwas a long weary night we was all mort in fear that the future was more than the knew twas a long weary night but the morning is near and the words of our prophet are true there are signes in the sky that the darkness is gone there are tokens in the endless array and the storm witch has seemingly banished the dawn only hastens the advent of dayJohn B. Mount. January 14, 1864

Notes

The words are recorded as they appear on the paper. What is recorded below are the identical words arranged to be more easily read as a poem./Wake NicodemisNicodemus the slave was of African birth and was bought a bag full of gold.He was reckoned as part of the salt of the earth; he died years ago very old Twas his last sad request so we laid him awayin the trunk of an old hollow tree Wake me up was his charge at the first break of day;wake me up for the great jubilee Chorus. The good time coming is all most here; it was a long long long on the way. Now run and tell Eligah to hurry up jump,and meet us at the gun tree down in the swamp to wake Nicodemus to day. He was known as a prophet;at least was a wire He told of battles to come and we trembled with dread when he roled up his eyes and we heeded the shake of his them Though he clothed us with fear Yet the garments he wore were in patches at elbo and knee And he still wars the suit that he used to of yore as he sleeps in the old hollow tree.Nicodemis was never the sport of the lash though the bullet had oft crossed his path There were none of his masters so brave or so rashas to dare such a man with his rath. Still his great heart with kindness was filed to the brimhe obeyed who was born to commandBut he longed for the morning whitch now is at hand.On reverseTwas a long weary night we was all mort in fear that the future was more than the knew Twas a long weary night but the morning is near and the words of our prophet are true There are signes in the sky that the darkness is gone there are tokens in the endless array And the storm witch has seemingly banished the dawnonly hastens the advent of dayJohn B. Mount. January 14, 1864

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